Headed-wheat elevator.



E. W. BRUDEVOLD.

HEADED WHEAT ELEVATOR. APPLICATION FILED APR.30. 1915.

Patented Oct. 10; 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l Patented Oct. 10,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lllllllf I LWWIQ nliilgnn lv E. W. BRUDEVOLD.

HEADED WHEAT ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.30, I9l5.

witnesses E. W. BRUDEVOLD.

HEADED WHEAT ELEVATOR.

IN VEN TOR. varaYWrzaZeya/J Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

m m m N 9 WW 1 o. 6 1 0 1 6 .D STATES EDWARD W. BRUDEVOLD, OF DENVER,GOLORADO.

HEADED-WHEAT ELEVATOR.

eonora.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Application filed April 30, 1915. Serial No. 24,847.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD W. BRUDE- VOLI), a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headed-WheatElevators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference markedthereon, which form a part ofthis specification. 1

My invention relates to improvements in elevators more especiallyadapted for use in handling headed wheat or other grains. In manycountries where wheat is extensively grown, it is well known that theheads of the wheat only are removed, this operation being accomplishedby the use of what is termed headers. This headed material,

whether of wheator other grains, by reason of the short lengths of strawleft with the heads, is quite diflicult to handle, since it iscomparatively small. For this reason, it is difiicult to-get the.material in place upon a stack, particularly of any considerable height.Again, it is desirable to build these stacks relatively high for thereason that I there is more or less waste at both the top and bottom ofthe stack, in. the one case, due to the moisture of the earth and in theother case, due to the exposure to the Weather.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware,,the elevators employed are incapableof raising the grain to the desired height by reason of the fact thatthey cannot be set at a suificiently'steep incline or an inclinesufficiently approaching the vertical, since this relatively fine orsmall material has a tendency to fall or slide back or downwardly, underthe circumstances just indicated.

Hence, my object is to overcome this difli-" culty, and to provide anelevator which may be set at a sufficiently steep incline to' answer allpracticable purposes, and tothis end, the primary carrier or conveyerbelt is supplemented by an auxiliary carrier ar-' ranged in the elevatorframe above the primary or main carrier, and engages the material fromabove or on the side opposite from that where it is engaged by theprimary carrier. These two carriers cooperating or acting-inconjunction, prevent the relatively fine. or small headed materialFurthermore, I equip the discharge extremity of the elevator with asectional canvas conduit," whereby the material, when the dischargeextremity of the elevator is raised considerably above the. stack, is

guided downwardly to the stack, thus preventing the wind from blowingthe rela tively fine or headed material out of its course and beyond thestack. This conduit is composed of a seriesof relatively short lengthsand these lengths or sections may be gradually removed as the-stackincreases in height.

. Having briefly outlined my improved coni.

struction, I will proceed to descrlbe the same in detail, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated anembodiment thereof.

In this drawing,Figure 1 is a side elevat-ion of my improvedheaded-wheat eleva-. tor shown in position for use. Fig. 2 is a top planView showing the lower portion of the elevator, and more particularlythe platform upon which the material is discharged prior to thebeginning of the elevating function proper, the parts being shown on alarger scale. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation, partly broken away,the parts being shown on a larger scale. Fig. ,4 isa section taken onthe line 44, Fig. 3, viewed in the direction of the arrow, the partsbeing shown on a still larger scale. Fig. 5 is an elevation of thedevice in position for portation from place to place."

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.v

Let the numeral 5 designate a forwardly located platform which is openat both ends and provided on opposite sides with upwardly projectingparts 16 adapted to confine the material to be handled so'that the mainendless conveyer or carrier 6 may catch it and remove it from theplatform and carry it upwardly, as hereinafter more fully explained.

The platform 5 is hingedly connected with the framework 7 of ,the.elevator 8. The hinge pin (see Fig. 3) is designated by the numeral 9,parts of the hinge being secured to the platform as shown at 10 andother parts to the elevator frame as shown at 12. Located forward of theforward extranstremity of. the platform 5, is a drum or roller 13 fastona shaft 14 whose opposite extremities are equipped with sprocket wheels15 which are engaged by chains 17 which are suitablyspaced and connectedby transverse bars or flights 18. The upper run of this carrier orconveyer as it reaches the rear extremity of the platform 5, en-

' gages a second pair of sprocket wheels 19 which are mounted on thelower or. forward extremity of the conveyer frame and serves to guidetheupper run of the conveyer at the angle formed by the approximatelyhorizontal platform 5, and the steeply inclined elevator frame.

This elevator eomprisesa skeletonframework, including longitudinallydisposed relatively heavy-bars 20 arranged on oppoframework are securedvertically disposed and arranged parallel to each other.. These sitesides and constituting upper, and lower members suitably spacedaccording to the depth required. These longitudinally disposed bars20areconnected by otherbars 21 which extend at' rightangles to thelongitudinal bars, forming a strong skeleton framework'which isrectangular'in both plan and end view. .To the opposite sides of th1sside members 22 which are suitably spaced side members are of'suflicient height to form a relatively deep trough or chute havlng abottom .23. This bottom of the elevator frame at its lower or forwardextremity joins therear extremity of the platform 5, the twomembersvirtually forming a c0nt1n 'uous bed or support. for the grain.Theupper min of the conveyer belt -.or carrier 6 consisting of thechains. 17 and the cro'ss slats or flights18,engages this. supportingbed composed of the members 5 and 23., whereby the material which isdischarged upon the platform 5, is'carried-first 'rearwardly to the endof the platform 5 and thence upwardly.

on the bottom 23 of the elevator" frame, and

discharged into a canvas hood -24 which is connected with the upperpartof the e1e-. vato'r frame bymeans of aUshaped rod 25 hinged to theframe as shownat'26 andjsupported on opposite-sides by spring arms 27,

whose upper extremities are shaped as shown 1 at 28 to receive the sidesofthe part 25. The

' shown at-29. To thello'wer extremity of the hood 24 is connectedasshown at 30,- a canany; desired length, or this member 31 may 24 issecured to the u-shaped rod as vas member or section 31 which may be ofconsist of a series of sections which may be i Qremoved as the-stackincreases in height. f

- 'At the upper extremity offthe elevator frame and extending below thebottom thereof, are two sprocket wheels 32 which are fast on a shaft'33journaled in the frame: work. These sprocket wheels are engaged by thechains 17 of the carrier 6. The lower of this conveyer is engaged bybelt tight:

may be regulated; The lower run of the conveyer also engages sprocketwheels 40 fast on a shaft 41 journaled in the framework and arranged onopposite sides within the path of the chain 17.

Mounted in the upper part:of the elevator frame and coiiperatingwiththemain or' prlmary carrier 6, 1s an auxiliary carrier 42, which, asillustrated in the drawing, is

composed of an endless belt equipped with transversely arranged flights43. This auxillary carrler at its-opposite'extremities engages upper andlower'drums 44 and 45 which are mounted on shafts.46 and 47 re-'spectively,-said shafts being journaled in the framework of thestructure. During the operation of the machine the upper run of the maincarrier and .the lower run of the auxiliary carrier are movin upwardly,as indicated by the arrows see Fig. 3). Consequently, the lower run ofthe auxiliary carrier cooperates with the upper run of the main carrierto elevate the material after it has-reachedthe bottom 23 0f theelevator frame. It 'will'be-understood that the lower runof theauxillary carriermust be so located that it will engage the material ontop,

while the upper run, of the carrier 6 engagesthe same material on thebottom. In thisway, the material as it travels upwardly,

is grasped or clamped between two flighted conveyer members which aretraveling at uniform speed.- Hence, it is impossible 'for the materialto slide back, thus making it practicable toelevat'e the material whenthe elevator is'set at an inclination" sufliciently great for allpracticable purposes.

. In order that the two carriers may move at uniform .speed, the shaft33 which carchains of themain carrier at the upper extremity of theelevator frame, is equipped with a gear 48 which meshes with a gear 49lies the sprocket wheels 32 which engage the i of the same size,w'hichis fast on the shaft" 46 which carriesthe upper drum or roller 44 of theauxiliary carrier. By virtue of this construction, the motionwhich istransmitted to the main or primary carrier, is also transmitted to theauxiliary carrier. v

The construction whereby the carriers are operated-is illustratedin'Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. A shaft 51 is 'journaled in suitablebearings mounted on the'platform 5.

One extremity of this shaft is equipped with a pinion 52 which mesheswith a gear 53 fast on the shaft 14 which carries the drum or roller 13located at the forward extremity of the main or primary carrier.Connected with the shaft 51 beyond the pinion 52, is one extremity ofashaft 54 whose opposite extremity may be connected with any suitablesource of power. As illustrated in the drawing, the shaft 54 isconnected with the shaft 51 by a universal joint 55. The oppositeextremity of the shaft 54 is also equipped with a universal joint 56.Hence, as the shaft 54 is rotated, a corresponding movement will beimparted to the shaft 51 and transmitted through the medium of thepinion 52 to the gear 53, thence to the main carrier 6 and finally tothe auxiliary carrier, through the medium of the gears 48 and 49.

When the elevator is in use, it is anchored to the ground in anysuitable manner. As illustrated in the drawing, stakes or relativelyheavy metal. spikes 57 are passed through openings 58 formed in theopposite extremities of. a transverse bar 59 which is secured to thebottom of the platform 5 on the under side. These stakes or metal spikesare driven into the ground to a sufiicient distance to securely hold the,platform in place. The latter is further supported by means of legs 60connected with the platform on opposite sides and extending downwardlyto the ground, when the machine is in use. I

The sides 16 of the platform are connected near the rear extremitythereof by an archshaped bar 61 which extends above the platform and isequipped with depending forwardly curved fingers 62, which arevertically. adjustable on the supporting bar and are adapted'to engagethe grain or material discharged upon the platform-and prevent too largea quantity from passing to the elevator.

The tension of the auxiliary carrier is controlled by means of two bolts63 and 64 arranged on opposite sides of the lower end of the elevator,each pair of bolts being threaded into the opposite ends of a box 65 inwhich a block 66 is slidably mounted. These two blocks on opposite sidesof the machine constitute the supports for the opposite ends of a shaft47 which is journaled therein.

The elevator when in use (see Figs. 1 and 3) is partially supported bytwo wheels 67 which are applied to the opposite ends of an axle 68 whichis journaled in a support composed of-depending bars 69 and braces 70and 71 arranged on opposite sides of the said bars. The upperextremities of the bars are secured to the elevator frame as shown at91, while the upper extremities of the braces are secured to this frameas shown at 72 and 73.

When the elevator is in position for use, it is further supported bymeans of legs 74 which are connected near their lower extremities by atransverse member 75. The upper extremities of these legs are pivotallyconnected as shown at 76, to trusses 77 arranged on opposite sides andprojecting slightly downwardly from the elevator frame. By adjusting thelower extremities of these legs by moving them either forwardly orrearwardly, it is evident that the inclination of the elevator may beincreased or diminished as may be desired.

WVhen the elevatoris not in use and it is desired to transport it fromone place to another; it may be moved in a manner similar to that of anyother wheeled vehicle. In this event, the legs 74 may be detached orswung toward the elevator, whereby they are caused to occupy a positionparallel therewith. They may then be connected with the elevator framein any suitable or well known manner. After this is done, the rearportion of the elevator or that in the rear of the axle 68, 'is loweredand the forward extremity israised. In other words, the machine iscaused to assume approximately the position shown in Fig. 5 whereby theelevator is parallel or approximately parallel with the ground orsurface upon which the machine rests. As soon as the elevator is placedin this position, the platform 5 and its attachments are swungunderneath the forward extremity of the elevator. by turning the rearend of this platform on its hinge pin 9. When swung to this position, itis supported by means of depending rods 78 which are pivotally connectedwith the elevator frame as shown at 79, their lower extremitiesterminating in hooks 80 which are adapted to engage projections 81formed on the opposite sides 16 of the platform. A draft bar 82 which ispivotally connected with the lower part of the elevator as shown at 83,is then swung forwardly (the hood 24 and the canvas conduit 31havingbeen removed), after which a team of horses or any other power maybeconnected with the draft bar when the machine may be drawn from placeto place in a manner that will be readily understood. When the hood 24and canvas conduit 31 are detached, the U-shaped rod or hood-supportingframe 25 is thrown forwardly to the position illustrated in placed inthe position illustrated in Fig. 1.

The power to be employed in operating the carriers is connected with theshaft 54 and transmitted through the pinion 52 and the gear 53 to themain or primary carrier '6, and from the latter, through the medium ofthe gears 48 and 49, to the auxiliary carrier 42. The material to behandled is then discharged upon the platform 5, as indicated at 84 (see.Fig. 1). This material is then taken by the forward portion of the upperrun of the main conveyer and carried to the elevator where the twocarriers, the upper run of the main carrier and the lower run of theauxiliary carrier, cooperate to carry it upwardly and discharge it firstinto the hood 24 and thence into the canvas conduit 31, whence it passesto the stack 85v (see F 1).

he upper run of the auxiliary carrier is supported by a number ofrollers 50 which are suitably mounted on the conveyer frame and provideantifrictional means to prevent the upper run of the carrier fromsagging or swinging down farther than is desirable. Attention is calledto the fact that the auxiliary carrier may be adjusted by moving ittoward or away from the main or primary carrier. Any suitableprovisionmay be made for accomplishing this object. In the drawing, Ihave illustrated plates 92 and 93 which extend above the elevator frame,at opposite ends, and are provided with openings 94 and 95 adapted toreceive the shafts 46 and 47, respectively, carrying the rolls 44 and45. It must be understood that any suitable provision may be made foradjusting the auxiliary carrier in order that its lower run may bebrought into cooperative proximity with the upper run of the maincarrier when the machine is in opera tion. -It will .also be understoodthat the lower run of the auxiliary carrier must be to engage thematerial on the upper side, while the upper run of the main carrier isengaging it on the lower side,'in order that the two runs may cooperateto perform the elevating function.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,

1. Anelevator for headed wheat or similar material, comprising aframework in position adaptedto be supported in aninclined posiforwardextension engaging said platform,

\the latter forming a continuation of the bottom of the elevator framebut extending therefrom at an angle, and the said platform and carrierextension adapted to be swung under the elevator frame, and meansdepending from the latter for securing the platform and carrierextension in-this position when the machine is being transported.

2. A conveyer of the class described, comprising a frame adapted to besupported in an inclined position, a platform extending forwardly fromthe lower extremity of the conveyer frame and hingedly connectedtherewith, the platform when in use occupying a position substantiallyparallel with the surface where the machine is located, the saidplatform also adapted to be folded under the conveyer frame when themachine is being transported, means connected with the said conveyerframe for securing the platform in the folded position, an endlessconveyer whose upper run engages the platform and the bottom of theconveyer frame, and an auxiliary carriermounted on the conveyer frameabove the first named carrier and coi'rperating therewith to perform theelevating function.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EbWARD w. BRUDEVOLD;

